Mandevilla plant named ‘Sunparacore’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Mandevilla  plant named ‘Sunparacore’, characterized by its compact plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit and short internodes, dense and bushy plant form; freely flowering habit; medium-sized dark red-colored flowers; and long flowering period.

Botanical designation: Mandevilla×amabilis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SUNPARACORE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofMandevilla plant, botanically known as Mandevilla×amabilis andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Sunparacore’.

The new Mandevilla plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. The objective ofthe breeding program is to create new freely-branching Mandevilla plantswith numerous dark red-colored flowers.

The new Mandevilla plant originated from an open-pollination inHigashiomi, Shiga, Japan in April, 2006 of a proprietary selection ofMandevilla×amabilis identified as code number M37-mt1, not patented, asthe female, or seed parent with an unknown selection ofMandevilla×amabilis as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Mandevillaplant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single floweringplant from within the progeny of the stated open-pollination in acontrolled greenhouse environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan inOctober, 2007.

Asexual reproduction of the new Mandevilla plant by cuttings inHigashiomi, Shiga, Japan, since November, 2007 has shown that the uniquefeatures of this new Mandevilla plant are stable and reproduced true totype in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Mandevilla have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may varysomewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperatureand light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Sunparacore’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Sunparacore’ as a new and distinct Mandevillaplant:

-   -   1. Compact plant habit.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching habit and short internodes, dense and bushy        plant form.    -   4. Freely flowering habit.    -   5. Medium-sized dark red-colored flowers.    -   6. Long flowering period.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of the femaleparent selection. Plants of the new Mandevilla differ primarily fromplants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Mandevilla have slightly longer internodes        than plants of the female parent selection.

2. Petals of plants of the new Mandevilla are ovate in shape whereaspetals of plants of the female parent selection are spatulate in shape.

-   -   3. Plants of the new Mandevilla and the female parent selection        differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection        have red purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Mandevilla can be compared to plants of the Mandevilla‘Sunmanderemi’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,449. Inside-by-side comparisons conducted in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, plantsof the new Mandevilla differed from plants of ‘Sunmanderemi’ in thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Mandevilla had longer internodes than        plants of ‘Sunmanderemi’.    -   2. Petals of plants of the new Mandevilla were ovate in shape        whereas petals of plants of ‘Sunmanderemi’ were spatulate in        shape.    -   3. Plants of the new Mandevilla had smaller leaves than plants        of ‘Sunmanderemi’.    -   4. Flowers of plants of the new Mandevilla were darker in color        than flowers of plants of ‘Sunmanderemi’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Mandevilla plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe actual colors of the new Mandevilla plant.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective viewof a typical flowering plant of ‘Sunparacore’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of atypical flower of ‘Sunparacore’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the summer in 15-cm containersin an outdoor nursery in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan and under commercialpractice. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged25° C. and night temperatures averaged 15° C. Plants were six months oldwhen the photographs and description were taken. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Mandevilla×amabilis ‘Sunparacore’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Mandevilla×amabilis identified as code number M37-mt1, not            patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection of            Mandevilla×amabilis, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About two weeks at 23° C. to 25° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—About five to six            weeks at 23° C. to 25° C.        -   Root description.—Fibrous; light brown in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Vining plant habit; vigorous growth            habit; freely branching habit.        -   Lateral branch description.—Length: About 121 cm. Diameter:            About 1.9 mm. Internode length: About 3.2 cm. Strength:            Strong. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color, developing: Close            to 143A. Color, mature: Close to 177A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.        -   Length.—About 6.5 cm.        -   Width.—About 3.6 cm.        -   Shape.—Obovate.        -   Apex.—Cuspidate.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous;            leathery.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate, reticulate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 138A. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137A; venation,            close to 144B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close            to 137C; venation, close to 159A.        -   Petiole length.—About 1.6 cm.        -   Petiole diameter.—About 1.3 mm.        -   Petiole texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Petiole color, upper and lower surfaces.—Close to 144B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single salverform flowers; flowers            arranged in axillary racemes; flowers face upright and            outwardly; freely flowering habit with about four to five            flowers per inflorescence.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about six            weeks after planting; long flowering period, plants flower            continuously from early summer to late autumn in Japan.        -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About seven to ten days;            flowers not persistent.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flowers.—Appearance: Flared trumpet, corolla fused and            five-parted; flowers roughly star-shaped. Diameter: About            7.6 cm. Depth (length): About 6.4 cm. Throat diameter: About            1.6 cm. Tube length: About 5.2 cm. Tube diameter,            mid-section: About 1.3 cm. Tube diameter, base: About 3.8            mm.        -   Flower buds.—Height: About 7 cm. Diameter: About 1.3 cm.            Shape: Lenticular. Color: Towards the apex, close to 59A;            mid-section, close to 185B; towards the base, close to 145C.        -   Corolla.—Quantity and arrangement: Five petals arranged in a            single whorl and fused at the base. Petal length: About            3.5 cm. Petal width: About 3.1 cm. Petal shape: Ovate. Petal            apex: Cuspidate. Petal margin: Entire. Petal texture, upper            and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; satiny. Throat            texture: Smooth, glabrous. Tube texture: Smooth, glabrous.            Color: Petal, when opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close            to 185A. Petal, fully opened, upper surface: Close to 185A.            Petal, fully opened, lower surface: Close to 187B. Throat:            Close to N163B; towards the petal lobes, close to 185A.            Tube: Towards the apex, close to 185A; mid-section, close to            155A; towards the base, close to 185C.        -   Corona.—Quantity and arrangement: Five sepals arranged in a            single whorl. Sepal length: About 1.1 cm. Sepal width: About            2.5 mm. Sepal shape: Lanceolate. Sepal apex: Acuminate.            Sepal base: Obtuse. Sepal margin: Entire. Sepal texture,            upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Sepal color:            Immature, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144D. Mature,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144D.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.7 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Strength: Flexible, but strong.            Color: Close to 144A.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1.8 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Strength: Flexible, but strong.            Color: Close to 179B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity and arrangement:            Typically five; filaments fused to corolla; anthers,            connivent. Anther shape: Ellipsoidal. Anther size: About 1            mm by 1 cm. Anther color: Close to 12C. Pollen amount:            Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 12C. Pistils: Quantity:            Typically one. Pistil length: About 2.2 cm. Style color:            Close to 144D. Stigma shape: Conical. Stigma color: Close to            2C. Ovary color: Close to 144B.        -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production have not been            observed on plants of the new Mandevilla.-   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Mandevilla have not    been noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Mandevilla plants.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Mandevilla have been observed    to tolerate wind, rain and temperatures ranging from about 4° C. to    about 30° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Mandevilla plant named‘Sunparacore’ as illustrated and described.